Social housing development named after historical figure
By Aura McMenamin
A new social housing development in Tallaght will be named after Irish historical figure Hanna Sheehy Skeffington, as 2018 marks the centenary of women gaining the right to vote.
The site at St Aidan’s in Brookfield will be called ‘Sheehy Skeffington Meadows’, according to South Dublin County Council.
The social housing development in Brookfield will be called Sheehy Skeffington Meadows
Sinn Fein councillor Louise Dunne put forward a motion to name the rapid-build development after suffragette Sheehy Skeffington at the January county council meeting.
The Echo reported that instead, the name Cheevers Meadow had been chosen, as the new housing development falls into the Cheeverstown townland.
The choice of name was unpopular with councillors, with Fianna Fáil councillor Charlie O’Connor likening the name to “something you’d see on a jam jar”.
However, following the passing of Cllr Dunne’s motion, the council announced ahead of Monday’s Tallaght Area Committee meeting that the new name for the estate had been agreed by members of the Housing Strategic Policy Committee.
The council also announced that the naming of social housing developments going forward will “allow input from the members on proposed development names”.
Fought long and hard
Sharing the news online, Cllr Dunne said: “[Hanna Sheehy Skeffington] fought long and hard for women’s rights, equality and justice and I am delighted that we in Tallaght will now have an estate named after her and in recognition of her legacy.”
“The new estate will be called “Sheehy Skeffington Meadows” and will have a plaque with some history and in memory of her.”
The houses on the Brookfield site will consist of 80 rapid-build three-bedroom units and will be constructed along with five Traveller accommodation units. They are expected to be completed by summer 2018.
The housing provision includes two-storey houses primarily grouped in terraces, or semi-detached layout. There will be 41 three-bedroom, two-storey units for four people and 39 two-storey, three-bedroom units for five people, as well as five Traveller housing units.
